The Otakon 2010 Thread (OK now panic)

[Honou_Miko]

If anyone is thinking of contacting the Programming department, i would use the link on the website first, and then follow-up with a direct e-mail if you're ignored (which is just plain RUDE if that happens). it's also difficult to voice your concerns when you don't know ALL the details. It's a lot to discuss, and not all of it should be public. So, you're welcome to voice your concerns that your efforts are being neglected but as far as essay writing, I don't think the general public is in any position to offer suggestions, only voice concerns over what's been proposed.

Roger that. At the very least, it needs to be stressed how INCREDIBLY FREAKING IMPORTANT SYNC IS. Why the hell do we do what we do? These aren't frigging (pseudo)yaoi fanart slideshows here. We don't do frame-by-frame work for nothing. We need a room where sync can be guaranteed. Even if we lose everything else, this is the essence of what we do, and we cannot lose it. Especially not for ~commercial time.~ (Reminds me of when the Charlie Brown Christmas Special cut the Lucy/Schroeder scene for COMMERCIAL time. For big, bright, shiny aluminum Christmas trees.)

Besides, there's a 1000 characters when you write a message to programming from the web site, so essay writing is out of the question.

Oh GOD thank you for pointing this out before I started writing. But hey, I will do what I can even with very little to work with...

If I were "this person" I would assume that "this person" has scored high enough to make the final contest.

This person was, in ALL honesty, not intending to pry or get any ahead-of-time hints, but shall assume this with great happiness.



oh wait those are banned now lol.

Really, Vic, thank you for all the hard work you've done. We'll all keep our fingers crossed!!

[VicBond007]

I am only ASSUMING that sync will be an issue because dealing with logistics in the past has been an uphill battle, and I am HIGHLY doubtful that they want to re-wire Main Events. The only room that this is guaranteed is Video 1. I'll take a guarantee over a "maybe" when it comes to live presentations. I would be a little more miffed that the current schedule, no matter how we shuffle around inside our "block" leaves us no time for an awards ceremony before Sunday ._.

Yes, Vuvuselas are banninated, and I think bagpipes too...

[Honou_Miko]

I am only ASSUMING that sync will be an issue because dealing with logistics in the past has been an uphill battle, and I am HIGHLY doubtful that they want to re-wire Main Events. The only room that this is guaranteed is Video 1. I'll take a guarantee over a "maybe" when it comes to live presentations. I would be a little more miffed that the current schedule, no matter how we shuffle around inside our "block" leaves us no time for an awards ceremony before Sunday ._.

Hrrrrm, I'm wondering if I'm in a position to voice concerns about that; I missed Iron Editor and the awards ceremony last year, I believe due to flat-out exhaustion. Well, if I only have 1000 characters, I can't get into much detail other than the fact that the event draws in a huge amount of people and that it would be risking a lot of fans who won't get to see what they've known and loved for the past several years, and who would have been looking forward to it.

Yes, Vuvuselas are banninated, and I think bagpipes too...

"Absolutely no vuvuzelas or similar loud noisemakers are permitted within Otakon."

My friend had planned on bringing his tuba to Club Otaku, but he decided against going ($65 was too much since he'd only be interested in the video games). Now THAT would have been quite the case; a tuba confiscation.

[Salathe]

If I were "this person" I would assume that "this person" has scored high enough to make the final contest.

Shouldn't that have been a PM? Or were you going to indulge in fairness and tell everyone? =D

[SailorDeath]

Yes, Vuvuselas are banninated, and I think bagpipes too...

"Absolutely no vuvuzelas or similar loud noisemakers are permitted within Otakon."
My friend had planned on bringing his tuba to Club Otaku, but he decided against going ($65 was too much since he'd only be interested in the video games). Now THAT would have been quite the case; a tuba confiscation.

Thank you, you just gave me a Topper for at AWA Expo for Most Annoying AMV ever.

[Junipertay]

Really, Vic, thank you for all the hard work you've done. We'll all keep our fingers crossed!!

x2

Thanks so much for everything you do Vic. Regardless of how it turns out, we all appreciate it.

[chui101]

Email sent. That 1000 character limit really blows. I was thinking about making a greasemonkey script since I'm betting the limit is only there in the javascript, but decided it wasnt worth the effort...

I am writing about the proposed scheduling of AMV events. I have heard that the needs of AMVs and other fan-created content have been pushed aside for screenings by corporate sponsors. As an AMV editor, I find it reprehensible that Otakorp's priorities are this misguided. Editing AMVs is a very involved process that requires technical finesse on both the editing and presenting end, and Mr Boruta is one of the best at presenting AMV contests. He makes sure that our creations are shown accurately and reliably - something DSL has been remiss at. Moreover, the proposed changes to the programming will make it impossible for the staff to announce winners during the convention. I urge you to reconsider the direction of your scheduling, to consider the needs of the AMV community at one of the largest and most prestigious AMV contests in the world, and to remember that Otakon is above all a convention for individuals like me who love Japanese culture.

I think we can't say it enough, but thanks, Vic, for sticking up for us -- last year with the Trailer/Parody category, and this year with all this crap, and all the crap before that.

[moonbunnychan]

I kinda wonder though if a bunch of people writing emails though will have the opposite effect to just piss higher ups off...hmmm...

But ya, it's kind of important to know who won the contest, I mean that's just common sense. Especially since Otakon is like THE Amv Contest.

But I guess so much for the for fans by fans mentality. (Although admittedly if one of the new things is the Haruhi movie I'd squeal with joy).

And I know it's not an issue for this year, but please god don't ever put the awards during the masquerade. I mean, I know it's a popular event and all but not everybody likes it. I certainly don't, and really wouldn't want to sit through hours of something I don't have any interest in. At least with Iron Editor it's relevant to people that like AMVs, so that makes sense.

[VicBond007]

here's the latest from Ree, head of the video dept.

I will try to find some space for AMV overflow...but here is the problem... we just do not have space. We lost two video rooms this year and we are struggling to put everything the companies want to do. I had to get rid of the kids programing and that is a huge blow for the con. I will try and find space in video room 2 for you, if I can finagle things, but the real bulk of the problem is that if AMV overflow is on the server...that makes life a lot more difficult for everyone. The server is a great thing for the contest, but when you put everything on it, honestly it makes doing simple things like moving rooms and switching up difficult. If you can provide any sort of dvd for overflow it may be a stronger possibility. I know there are arguments that the entrants are amateurs who do not know how to code things with HQ sound and quality, but it used to be those people were weeded out of the contests to begin with. I understand that AMVs is very important and vital to the con. But the painful truth is that AMV overflow is becoming harder to accommodate for with the loss of rooms and the complication of the server. I can only promise that I will try my best to wiggle space for it... Maybe i can put it in 1/2 - 1 hr blocks.. I will do what I can, but please understand if I cannot do it. It isn't because I don't want to. It is because I have no room to do so.

So 2 things. 1, Industry > Fans. 2, non-finalists should be weeded out so that they're not a burden. Oh and 3, ya'll are amateurs Please don't go quoting this e-mail. I probably shouldn't be sharing (though the e-mail came from her hotmail account and thus isn't accompanied by the usual "property of Otakon, for private use only" disclosure) but you folks should know where you stand in Otakorp's eyes. This is the behind closed doors stuff that they probably don't want the "amateurs" hearing about.

PS: There's a fuckton of "room". They offered us a huge block of time in main events, the same time that could be used by us in Video 1.

[Honou_Miko]

Yes, Vuvuselas are banninated, and I think bagpipes too...

"Absolutely no vuvuzelas or similar loud noisemakers are permitted within Otakon."
My friend had planned on bringing his tuba to Club Otaku, but he decided against going ($65 was too much since he'd only be interested in the video games). Now THAT would have been quite the case; a tuba confiscation.

Thank you, you just gave me a Topper for at AWA Expo for Most Annoying AMV ever.

Hurrrr, it better not be the same as one of the clips I submitted to AMV Hell.

I kinda wonder though if a bunch of people writing emails though will have the opposite effect to just piss higher ups off...hmmm...

It depends on how it's put. It is in their best interest to acknowledge that fans are upset about this... heh, I was telling my mother about the situation and she was like "boycott them next year!!" I wouldn't go that far, but you know, some people may just think "wow it's going downhill" and not go anymore. :/ If I write this message, I'm putting the stress on giving the fans what they've known and loved for years, and that the AMV contest has such a high attendance rate; it would be upsetting many people to drop the conclusion of such an event. It's not even a question of trying some new changes out - if they can't announce the winners, it's like cutting out the end of a lot of people's favorite show. And you do NOT want to do that to fans.